Russia studies nuclear engines for spacecraft

On December 20, at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Anatoly Perminov, head of the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos), said that since 2010, Russia will begin research projects in manufacturing. Nuclear engine for spacecraft.

Russian news agencies quoted Perminov as saying: "Nuclear engines for the spacecraft are a promising field. We need to build such engines to make flights to Mars and onions. Russia will start scientific research in this field since 2010 ".

Earlier, Mr. Perminov also said that developing Megawatt-class nuclear power systems for manned spacecraft was vital if Russia wanted to maintain its leading position in the space industry.

According to Perminov, a draft design for the spacecraft will be completed in 2012 and will require at least 17 billion rupees (more than 580 million dollars) to continue to grow in the next 9 years.

Earlier, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev confirmed that Russia would prioritize the development of nuclear energy, especially the use of nuclear technology for spacecraft.